Embraer enters the freighter market

A new chapter has begun in the 55-year history of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. (Embraer). With immediate effect, the company, which employs around 18,000 people, is expanding its product portfolio to include cargo aircraft. An important prerequisite was the go-ahead from Washington’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), that has now fully certified Embraer’s E190 freighter aircraft.

Embraer expects to sell nearly 700 of its E190F and E195 P2F in the next 20 years  –  picture: company courtesy

“FAA certification is an important milestone in our passenger-to-freighter conversion program. With our E-Jet footprint across the U.S. and worldwide, we are offering optimum cargo solutions to our customers for this connected world,” stated Martyn Holmes, Chief Commercial Officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation in reaction to the FAA decision.

The loading concept was developed and produced by U.S. Cargo Systems, a Goldsboro, North Carolina-based designer and manufacturer of Cargo Handling and Aerial Delivery System technologies. Its core part is a large hatch cut into the fuselage to allow for larger shipments to be loaded onto the main deck of the aircraft. The E190F’s combined loading capacity of its lower and main decks is 13,500 kilograms.

Filling a niche
The freighter can accommodate 6 ULD 96x124x73 inches, 1 ULD 96×60.4×73 inches and one ULD LD3. The modification includes a reinforced floor equipped with roller beds to facilitate the fast and smooth movement of unit load devices within the jetliner.

The E190F has a range of 4,260 km when fully loaded. It thus fills a niche in payload and range between the ATR Turboprop 72-600F and Boeing’s B737-300 /-400 P2F conversions. Embraer forecasts a market for its freighters of nearly 700 units over the next two decades. Originally, the E190 freighter conversion and its sister model E195P2F were supposed to enter service at the beginning of this year, but the program was delayed.

Spurred by changed market demand
In a press release issued in JUL22, Embraer announced its intention to step into the air freight market by manufacturing both E190 and E195 freighters respectively. “New demands spurred by ecommerce and e-trade” were the motives behind this step. “This requires fast deliveries and decentralized operations to serve regional markets,” states the frame maker in its current release.

In JUL24, the E-freighter was certified by the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC). Following FAA certification, market observers expect conversion orders from various airlines that have E190s and E195s in their fleets. One of these could be LOT Polish Airlines, whose management has been discussing the launch of an own freighter fleet for some time.

However, the Embraer jetliners have yet to receive the green light from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Following the go-ahead from Washington’s FAA, this will happen before the turn of the year, European aviation experts believe.

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